[fourcol_three]Your contractor is going to be getting their hands into the electrical system that provides you with light; the gas lines that allow you to cook food; the mechanical unit that provides you with a hot shower in the mornings; the hvac system that controls the temperature in your home. Your contractor is going to be in your home, often when you aren’t even there. The fate of your most valued investment – your home – is in the hands of this person.
This is a person you want to have a good relationship with.
Hiring just any contractor for a major construction project or remodel is like trying to have a happy family life by marrying the first person you meet. This article will provide you with an overview of how you can go through the hiring process to maximize the likelihood you find the right contractor.
[/fourcol_three][fourcol_one_last][box]Would you like some help?
BuildZoom can help you connect with the right contractors, get the right bid and eliminate your risk.
Tell us a little about your project to get started.[/box][/fourcol_one_last]
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Finding prospects
[fourcol_three]People who are looking for a life partner leverage many channels. People typically like getting introductions through friends and family (as opposed to random encounters) because it decreases the crazy factor. When it comes to finding a contractor, most states help you decrease the crazy factor by regulating who is even eligible to work.
At BuildZoom, we gather and analyze information directly from the license boards to make sure they pass the baseline standards for being able to work on your project.[/fourcol_three][fourcol_one_last][box]Reliable sources
- Your state license board
- BuildZoom[/box] [/fourcol_one_last]
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Qualifying prospects
A while back, we conducted a survey to better understand the hiring patterns in satisfied versus dissatisfied remodeling clients. Clients were asked to rank several criteria, in order of importance, based on how much they influenced their hiring decision.
We found that highly satisfied clients tend to care more about client references and works samples. Highly dissatisfied customers focused more on price and online reviews.
Here is advice from Split Rock Associates, a contractor with over 30 years of combined experience in the industry:
[quote]The most important thing to get correct is to hire the right contractor. So many people are looking strictly at the numbers and hiring the cheapest contractor only to pay later in time, aggravation and redos. Get referrals and check the work of the contractors that you are considering. Make sure that type of project you have is the type that the contractor has experience with. The cheapest way to do something is the right way the first time with the right team! A contractor who works out of a home office, pays little or no workman’s comp, doesn’t pull permits and uses a pickup crew for each job is operating from a completely different position of integrity and financial strength than one who carries all of the required insurance, does things correctly, retains employees all year long and has a strong reputation with all rating agencies. The latter invests a significant amount of time and money in establishing his/her firm with a long term view for success. The former will be cheaper upfront but cost the most in the long run.[/quote]
Kathleen Comerford, Split Rock Associates
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Meeting with contractors
The first in-person meeting with a contractor typically happens during the walkthrough. A common mistake that homeowners make, is to treat the walkthrough as a formality needed to allow a prospective contractor to provide a bid. The real importance of the walkthrough should be to determine whether or not the contractor is someone you can have an incredible relationship with. It is so important, we have created a separate guide devoted to the walkthrough, which you can access by clicking here.
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Building a strong working relationship
To wrap things up, we’d offer the following, from a contractor we know and trust:
[quote]Any time I work with a new client I treat them as if the they have never done any remodeling before. Most clients don’t know anything about the permits or the process to fill them, that is our job. As a contractor, our job is to take control of the job and guide our client through a smooth process. The main thing a customer should know before starting any project is Budget. Once they have determined that budget, make sure you set aside a little extra money for the possibility of added things or if problems occur. Remember, its ok to ask your contractor questions throughout the process. Its good to know what he is doing and why.[/quote]
Joe Savage, Savage Home Improvements
[box]Would you like some help?
BuildZoom can help you connect with the right contractors, get the right bid and eliminate your risk.
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